Piqua Association of Churches’ citywide revival returning

PIQUA — Area churches will be coming together again later this month to the celebrate the unity of their common faith during the Piqua Association of Churches’ (PAC) second annual citywide church revival.

The revival will be held Sept. 22-23, at Transformed Life Church, 421 Wood St. in Piqua. On Friday, Sept. 22, it will begin at 7 p.m. with Pastor Brian Hamilton of Transformed Life Church speaking and Transformed Life Praise Team performing. On Saturday, Sept. 23, the revival will start at 6 p.m. with PAC President PPaul Green speaking and the Piqua Pentecostal Praise Team performing.

“The first one was very well-received,” Green said, explaining that three things happened during their first revival that he hopes to see continued again at this year’s revival, starting off with becoming unified.

“Some of the churches may not have been there because of their services and things going on, but they did contribute helping with things that we needed,” such as with providing supplies and advertising, Green said.

Secondly, attendance exceeded Green’s expectations at the first revival.

“Not only church people, but we also had Piqua residents that came, so I see that growing as well,” he said.

Green added that the third thing that happened at the revival was that he felt the services met people where they were at in their lives, addressing newcomers and regular church attendees.

“The third thing that was so powerful and unique was that … each service was geared differently than the other. Each service was meant for the people that came in,” Green said. “For the first service, we had the new people, so God moved toward their heart,” explaining that the service was “salvation-driven.”

During the following service, Green said, “God worked on that service in a more loving, nurturing way” for those active in their churches and their faith.

For the upcoming revival, Green said, “I see these things doubling.”

Green said that he sees more unity among the churches in Piqua for this event, including the churches helping to meet PAC’s needs for this revival.

“I see God working again even more differently and being geared for what is meant for that particular service,” Green said. “That is what I was so proud about with the revivals.”

Green reiterated that this is still a new event for PAC, but he believes it will continue to grow and come back every year.

“The reason why I see it being special is the fact that it is Piqua’s own taking care of Piqua’s own,” Green said. “It’s Piqua’s pastors taking care of the Piqua people because they’re the ones with them every day. They’re the ones helping their families through the hard times. They’re the ones that minister to them all of the time, so they’re going to continue doing that.”

The revival will be set up like regular worship services, including opening with a greeting and praise service. Then there will be a sermon for the community and an altar call at each service.

The revival also is serving as a possible follow-up to other community events like Hope Over Heroin and the church fair, which Green said laid the groundwork to affect change in the community.

“It’s time to reap from it,” Green said. He hopes the revival will continue inspiring people to change and better their lives.

“God is showing me that he’s going to handle each service as the needs come in,” Green said. “I see it being a God-driven service.”